Pump having interchangeable heads

ABSTRACT

A pump comprising a housing having a head carrying area, a motor disposed within the housing, a rotor rotated by the motor; and a pump head assembly mounted to the head mount of the housing, the pump head assembly being one of a piston head assembly or a diaphragm head assembly. The head carrying area is configured such that the piston head assembly and the diaphragm head assembly may be interchangeably mountable thereon. The head carrying area comprises a cylinder seat surrounding an aperture and a radially outward of the aperture. The sidewall may also have a step. The cylinder seat may be sized to receive a cylinder of the piston head assembly and the annular step of the annular sidewall may be configured to receive a diaphragm support ring of the diaphragm head assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/909,894, filed Nov. 27, 2013, the entire disclosureof which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a pump which provides theinterchangeability of a diaphragm pump head and a piston pump headmounted to the pump such that the pump can be selectively configured byan operator as one of a diaphragm pump or a piston pump.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Having flexibility in stocking pumping types may be desirable for pumpdistributors. For example, different applications may be better carriedout by a diaphragm pump or a piston pump. Currently, if a pumpdistributor wishes to vary the type of pump utilized, i.e., change froma diaphragm pump to a piston pump for a particular application, thedistributor must purchase an entirely new pump.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pump provides for interchangeability of heads thereby allowing thedistributor or operator to vary the type of pump between a diaphragmpump and piston pump by mounting different heads to the same housing,motor and shaft. The present pump includes a housing having a headcarrying area; a motor; a shaft rotated by the motor; and a pump headcoupled to the head carrying area. The pump head may be selected from apiston pump head, and a diaphragm pump head. The piston pump head andthe diaphragm pump head are interchangeably mountable on the headcarrying area.

The head carrying area includes a sidewall and a plurality of pistonpump head mounting bosses. The bosses may be disposed radially inward ofa first side surface of the sidewall. The piston pump head mountingbosses may be integral with the first side surface and extend laterallyin a direction radially inward of the first side surface. The carryingarea also includes a plurality of diaphragm pump head mounting bosses.These bosses may be disposed radially outward of the sidewall. Thediaphragm pump head mounting bosses may extend laterally in a directionoutward away from said first side surface. The diaphragm pump headmounting bosses may also extend in a radial and lateral direction awayfrom the center axis of an aperture delimited in the radial direction bysaid first side surface. The radial and axial direction of the pistonhead mounting bosses and diaphragm head mounting bosses is relative to along axis passing through the aperture. Outward is away from said axisand inward is towards said axis. The head carrying area, which can alsobe called a mounting structure or mount, includes a diaphragm supportring structure adapted to carry a diaphragm support ring. The ringsupport structure may be adjacent and about said aperture. The ringsupport may be continuous with said first side surface. The support maybe formed in said first sidewall having said first side surface.

The head carrying area also includes a cylinder seat adjacent saidaperture of said housing. It is about said aperture. It is about in aradial direction relative to the axis of said aperture. It surrounds theaperture and is annular. A second side surface delimits said aperture inthe radial direction. The second side surface is an annular side surfaceand radially outward of a portion of said aperture.

The cylinder seat is sized and adapted to receive and carry a cylinder.The cylinder is adapted to be in sealing engagement with said pistonpump head when said piston pump head is coupled to said carrying areaand said cylinder is carried by said seat.

The pump, when configured as a diaphragm pump comprises a diaphragmeccentric, removably coupled to said shaft, a reciprocating diaphragmsupport operably coupled to said diaphragm eccentric and extending inthe axial direction in said aperture, a diaphragm coupled to saidreciprocating support. The diaphragm pump head is removably coupled tothe carrying area. An outer edge of said diaphragm is clamped betweensaid diaphragm support ring and said diaphragm pump head. The supportring and head provide opposing forces on said outer edge of saiddiaphragm.

The pump, when configured as a piston pump, comprises a piston eccentricremovably coupled to said shaft, a piston operably connected to saidpiston eccentric and extending in the axial direction in said aperture,said cylinder bearing on and carried by said cylinder seat, a head ofsaid piston is sealingly engaged with said cylinder and in saidcylinder. The piston pump head is removably coupled to said carryingarea. The cylinder is between said piston pump head and said cylinderseat. The piston pump head and seat exert opposing forces on saidcylinder and at opposite ends of said cylinder.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments andthe accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification and are to beread in conjunction therewith, in which like reference numerals areemployed to indicate like or similar parts in the various views.

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of one embodiment of a pump havinginterchangeable heads wherein a piston pump head is coupled to a headcarrying area of the pump housing in accordance with the presentinvention; structure corresponding to the inlet and outlet valveassembly have been intentionally omitted for ease of reference;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the pump shown in FIG. 1 wherein thepump has been rotated to look into an end of the pump housing and acover and a plug shown in FIG. 1 have been removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pump having interchangeable heads ofFIG. 1 with the diaphragm pump head and its associated componentscoupled thereto and the piston pump head and its associated componentsall removed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the pump havinginterchangeable heads of FIG. 1 wherein the pump is fitted with adiaphragm pump head like the one in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pump of FIG. 1 wherein the piston pump head,associated fasteners, piston, eccentric, and shaft and other componentshave been removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the present invention referencesthe accompanying drawing figures that illustrate specific embodiments inwhich the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended todescribe aspects of the present invention in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodimentscan be utilized and changes can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention isdefined by the appended claims and, therefore, the description is not tobe taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention includes pump 10 comprising ahousing 12, a motor 14, and a shaft 16. Motor 14 includes a stator 15and a rotor 17 which rotates shaft 16. Shaft 16 and the motor rotor 17may be seamless. Housing 12 of pump 10 further includes a head carryingarea 18 to which the interchangeable pump heads may be coupled. The headcarrying area can be called a mount or mounting structure or headcarrying section. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, head carrying area 18includes a floor 20 and a sidewall 22. The sidewall extends in the axialdirection away from the floor 22. Sidewall 22 may include a top surface23, a surface 24 and a first side surface 26. Surface 24 is an outersurface. First side surface 26 is an inner surface. The sidewall 22 andfirst side surface 26 are annular. First side surface 26 delimits, inthe radial direction, a first portion 33 of aperture 34. Floor 20provides a radially extending surface which extends between first sidesurface 26 and a restricted diameter of the aperture 34. Sidewall 22 mayalso include a step 28 between first side surface 26 and outer surface24 wherein the step 28 is annular and defined by a top surface 30 and avertical transition surface 32. The step 28 defined by top surface 30and vertical transition surface 32 in combination with the top surface23 provide a diaphragm ring support structure for a diaphragm supportring 214.

Floor 20 may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of shaft16. The floor 20 extends radially inward and is between said first sidesurface 26 and a second side surface 35.

Second side surface 35 delimits in the radial direction a second portion33′ of aperture 34. A cylinder seat 36 surrounds and is adjacent andabout the second portion of aperture 34. The cylinder seat 36 is alsoformed in wall portion having said second side surface 35. The secondportion 33′ of aperture 34 is radially inward of sidewall 22 and firstside surface 26. Second portion of aperture 34 has a second radiusextending from the axis of aperture 34 to second side surface 35. Firstportion 33 of aperture 34 has a first radius extending from the axis ofaperture 34 to the first side surface 26. The second radius is shorterthan the first radius. The radius can be shorter by at least 35%.Cylinder seat 36 may include a bearing surface 38. The floor 20 extendsin the radial direction between first side surface 26 and cylinder seat36.

Now turning back to FIG. 1, head carrying area 18 may also include aplurality of piston head mounting bosses 42 extending in the radial andlateral direction inward and way from first side surface 26 and sidewall22. The bosses 42 extend in an axial direction away from floor 20. FIG.5 further illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 including four pistonhead mounting bosses 42. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, each piston mountingboss 42 has a top surface 44, a side surface 46 having a height, and afastener receiving hole, such as a bolt-hole 48, defined in top surface44 and extending into mounting boss 42 for a portion of its height. Bolthole 48, or a portion thereof, may be threaded to receive a fastenersuch as a threaded rod or bolt. Top surface 44 of mounting boss 42 maybe located at or below top surface 30 of annular step 28. Mountingbosses 42 may be integral with first side surface 26 of sidewall 22 asshown, or mounting bosses 42 may be separate elements extending fromfloor 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, head carrying area 18 may also includediaphragm head mounting bosses 50 that are located outward in the radialand lateral direction of sidewall 22 and first side surface 26.Similarly, each diaphragm mounting boss 50 has a top surface 52, a sidesurface 54 having a height, and a fastener receiving hole, such as abolt-hole 56, defined in top surface 52 and extending into the boss 50for a portion of its height. Bolt hole 56, or a portion thereof, mayalso be threaded to receive a fastener such as a threaded rod or bolt.Top surface 52 of mounting bosses 50 may be located at or above topsurface 23 of annular sidewall 22. Mounting bosses 50 may be integralwith sidewall 22 as shown, or mounting bosses 50 may be separateelements extending from housing 12.

As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3, housing 12 includes a shaft chamber 58in which the pump eccentric and at least a portion of the reciprocatingmember, piston 126 or reciprocating diaphragm support 242, for therespective pumps are located. Shaft chamber 58 is continuous withaperture 34. As shown in FIG. 5, housing 12 may include a slot 60 whichis cut-away and extends inward from an end surface 62 of housing 12 toaperture 34 delimited by first side surface 26 and second side surface35. Now turning back to FIG. 1, a plug 64 may be inserted into slot 60during operation of the pump wherein plug 64 has an inner face 66, outerface 68, a top surface 70, and a bottom surface 72 Inner face 66 mayhelp define aperture 34 and a portion of second side surface 35. Outerface 68 may have an inward slot 74 defined therein and extending intoplug 64. Top surface 70 may be located at or below top surface 30 ofstep 28. Bottom surface 72 may have a profile that matches the innersurface 82 of housing 12 in chamber 58. Chamber 58 may be closed with acover 76 that is removably connected to housing 12. In one embodiment,cover 76 includes a leg 78 that is configured to be received into slot74 wherein cover 76 helps secure plug 64 in slot 60 when it is securedto housing 12 by preventing outward and upward displacement of plug 64.Cover 76 may be a vented cover having a plurality of vent holes 80 tovent shaft chamber 58.

Head carrying area 18 is adapted to allow one of two pump heads to bemounted thereon so that an operator or distributor may interchange adiaphragm pump assembly 200 and a piston pump assembly 100. As furthershown in FIG. 1, assembly 100, with piston pump head 102, can be mountedto a portion of pump 10. Piston pump head 102 includes an intake 104, anintake channel 106, an outlet 108, and an outflow channel 110. Pistonhead 102 also includes a top cap 112 that may be removably coupledthereto. Piston pump head 102 also includes a cylinder plug portion 114having a sealing member such as an O-ring 116 disposed thereon.

Assembly 100 further includes a cylinder member 118 having an innersurface 120 and an outer surface 122. Cylinder plug portion 114 isconfigured to be received into cylinder member 118 such that O-ring 116forms a seal with inner surface 120. Assembly 100 includes a pistoneccentric 124 and a piston 126 operably connected to piston eccentric124 as will be appreciated by a person of skill in the art. Piston 126includes an arm with a first end 128 and a second end 130. First end 128is operably connected to piston eccentric 124 and head 132 of piston 126is disposed on second end 130.

To couple assembly 100 to portions of pump 10, piston eccentric 124 isremovably coupled to shaft 16 in shaft chamber 58. Piston 126 ispositioned so that its arm is in shaft chamber 58 and operably connectedto piston eccentric 124. Piston 126 is positioned to extend in the axialdirection in aperture 34 and may be inserted into shaft chamber 58through slot 60 of housing 12. Cylinder member 118 is then slid over thehead 132 of piston 126 to bear on bearing surface 38 of cylinder seat 36and outer surface 122 of cylinder member 118 and may engage verticalface 40 of cylinder seat 36. Cylinder plug portion 114 of head 102 isinserted into cylinder member 118 such that O-ring 116 forms a seal withinner surface 120. Top cap 112 may be placed on top of head 102 andbolts 134 may then be inserted through bolt holes (not shown) in top cap112 and cylinder head 102. Bolts 134 are received into bolt holes 48 ofpiston head mounting bosses 42 and bolts 134 are tightened down toremovably couple piston head assembly 100 to housing 12. As furthershown in FIG. 2, top cap 112 is fastened to piston head 102.

FIG. 2 shows the assembly 100 having the piston pump head 102 mounted tohousing 12 prior to inserting the plug 64 in slot 60. Next, as shown inFIG. 1, plug 64 may be inserted in slot 60 and removably coupled to aportion of housing 12 and carrying area 18. Cover 76 may then be coupledto housing 12 to close access to shaft chamber 58 and, in someembodiments, help clamp plug 64 in its place. Now intake 104, intakechannel 106, outlet 108, and outflow channel 110 are in fluidcommunication with a compression chamber 138 defined by cylinder member118 and its inner surface 120 and piston pump head 102 and its plugportion 114. Once motor 14 is turned on, the rotating piston eccentric124 is configured to provide the desired vertical travel andreciprocation of piston 126. The head 132 of piston 126, within cylindermember 118, reciprocates and for each rotation of shaft 16 provides thefluid flow desired.

As shown in FIG. 3, an assembly 200 includes a diaphragm pump head 202having an intake 204, an intake channel 206, an outlet 208, and anoutflow channel 210. As shown in FIG. 4, diaphragm head assembly 200also includes a top cap 212 that may be removably coupled to head 202.Turning back to FIG. 3, assembly 200 includes diaphragm support ring 214that comprises an intermediate section 216, an outward upward rim 218extending upward from an outer edge 219 of intermediate section 216 andan inner downward rim 220 extending downward from an inner edge 221 ofintermediate section 216 as shown. Support ring 214 may generallyresemble a “Z” shape. A portion of section 216 is a bearing surface 222wherein support ring 214 is carried on and bears down on and engagessidewall 22 of housing 12. Further, inner downward rim 220 may also bearagainst vertical transition surface 32 of annular step 28.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, assembly 200 includes diaphragm pump head 202having an outer surface 226, a horizontal annular outwardly extendingledge 228 defined in the outer surface 226 with an annular notched seat230 defined in outwardly extending ledge 228. Ledge 228 may have agenerally rectangular shape with notched seat 230 being circular orround. Notched seat 230 is configured to engage and rest on annularupward rim 218 of diaphragm support ring 214 such that a bearing surface232 of notched seat 230 bears on top surface 217 of annular upward rim218. A portion of diaphragm pump head 202 is received into the spacedelimited by upward rim 218 of diaphragm support ring 214 as shown.

As further shown in FIG. 3, assembly 200 includes a diaphragm 234 havingan outer edge 236 and an inner edge 238. Diaphragm 234 is a flexiblemember comprised of any material currently known or developed in thefuture for the diaphragm of a diaphragm pump. For example, diaphragm 234may be rubber, neoprene, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, plastic,any other known elastomer or polymers, or any other known diaphragmmaterial. Outer edge 236 of diaphragm 234 is sandwiched betweendiaphragm pump head 202 and diaphragm support ring 214 as shown in FIG.3. The pump head 202 and ring 214 exert opposing forces on the outeredge 234 when diaphragm pump head 202 is removably coupled to housing12. Similarly, inner edge 238 of diaphragm 234 is sandwiched between atop surface 240 of a head 242′ of diaphragm support 242 and a bottomsurface 244 of a removable top 246 of head 242′. Top 246 may beremovably coupled to a portion of the head 242′ of diaphragm support 242to clamp diaphragm there-between. The head 242′ of diaphragm support 242is operably connected to a second end 248 of a diaphragm support arm250. The range of reciprocating motion of diaphragm support head 242′may be limited so its movement is not impeded by bosses 42. Diaphragmsupport head 242′ may also be shaped to allow head 242′ to avoid hittingthe piston pump head mounting bosses 42 of head mount 18 during verticaldisplacement of head 242′ and diaphragm shaft 250. Such shaping mayinclude contouring, notching, cut-out portions, or tapering. A first end252 of diaphragm support arm 250 is operably connected to a diaphragmeccentric 254 as shown in FIG. 3.

To assemble assembly 200 on pump 10, piston eccentric 254 is removablycoupled to shaft 16 in shaft chamber 58. Diaphragm support arm 250 ispositioned in shaft chamber 58 and is operably connected to diaphragmeccentric 254. Diaphragm support arm 250 is positioned to extend in theaxial direction in aperture 34 and may be inserted into shaft chamber 58through slot 60. Diaphragm support ring 214 is then placed in engagementwith sidewall 22 to bear thereon as described herein and shown in FIG.3. Diaphragm 234 is then positioned so outer edge 236 overlaps supportring 214. The inner edge 238 has already been sandwiched between aportion of support head 242′ and top 246. Diaphragm top 246 is removablycoupled to a portion of support head 242′ to clamp diaphragm 234there-between. Diaphragm pump head 202 is placed so that outer edge 236of diaphragm 234 is clamped between a portion of said ring and a portionof said head 202. The portion of the head is the portion extending intothe space delimited by upward extending rim 218 and intermediate portion216. Cover top 212 may be positioned on top of head 202. Then, as shownin FIG. 4, bolts 258 may be inserted through bolt holes 260 in cover top212 (not shown) and diaphragm head 202. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, bolts258 may be received into bolt holes 56 of diaphragm mounting bosses 50and bolts 258 are tightened down to removably couple diaphragm pump head202 to carrying area 18 of housing 12 with the necessary clamping forceon outer edge 236 of diaphragm 234.

As shown in FIG. 4, top cap 212 is fastened to diaphragm head 202. Inone embodiment, plug 64 may be inserted in slot 60 and removably coupledto carrying area similar to the embodiment shown on FIG. 1. Cover 76 maythen be coupled to a portion of housing 12 to close access to shaftchamber 58 and, in some embodiments, help clamp plug 64 in its place.Intake 204, intake chamber 206, outlet 208, and outflow chamber 210 areall in fluid communication with a compression chamber 262 defined bydiaphragm 234, head 242′ of support 242 and diaphragm pump head 202.Once motor 14 is turned on, the rotating diaphragm eccentric 254 isconfigured to provide the desired vertical travel and reciprocation ofarm 250 and head 242′ and inner edge 238 of diaphragm 234 relative toouter edge 236 for each rotation of shaft 16 to provide the intake andcompression force desired.

Another second interchangeable pump head like 102 and 202 may bedisposed on pump housing 12 at a second end of housing 12 andsimultaneously powered by motor 14. As will be appreciated by one ofskill in the art, a two pump head design may be configured to actindividually, in series for a two-stage pump, or in parallel. Anoperator may even mix and match the head types if desired.

As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of thepresent invention are not limited to the particular details of theexamples illustrated herein. It is therefore contemplated that othermodifications and applications using other similar or related featuresor techniques will occur to those skilled in the art. It is accordinglyintended that all such modifications, variations, and other uses andapplications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention are deemed to be covered by the present invention.

Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can beobtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosures, and the appendedclaims.

We claim:
 1. A pump comprising: a housing having a head carrying area; amotor; a shaft rotated by said motor; and an assembly coupled to saidhead carrying area and said shaft; said assembly being selected from afirst assembly and a second assembly wherein said first assemblycomprises a piston pump head, a cylinder, a piston and piston eccentric,said cylinder disposed between said head and a portion of said headcarrying area, said piston pump head coupled to said head carrying area,said piston at least partially disposed in said cylinder and said pistoneccentric coupled to said piston; and wherein said second assemblycomprises a diaphragm pump head, a diaphragm support, a diaphragm, andan eccentric, said diaphragm head coupled to said head carrying area,said diaphragm coupled to said diaphragm support, said eccentric coupledto said diaphragm support; and wherein said first assembly isinterchangeable with said second assembly.
 2. The pump of claim 1wherein the said piston pump head and said diaphragm pump head areinterchangeably mountable on said head carrying area.
 3. The pump ofclaim 1 wherein said head carrying area comprises a cylinder seat, andsidewall, said cylinder seat carries said cylinder when said firstassembly is selected, said sidewall carries a diaphragm support ringwhen said second assembly is selected and said diaphragm support ringand diaphragm pump head exert opposing forces on said diaphragm.
 4. Thepump of claim 3 wherein said head carrying area includes a plurality ofpiston head mounting bosses disposed radially inward of said sidewalland a plurality of diaphragm head mounting bosses disposed radiallyoutward of said sidewall and wherein when said first assembly isselected, said piston pump head of said first assembly is coupled tosaid piston head mounting bosses and wherein when said second assemblyis selected, said diaphragm pump head is coupled to said diaphragm headmounting bosses.
 5. The pump of claim 4 wherein a top surface of saidpiston head mounting bosses is at or below a top surface of said annularstep of said annular sidewall.
 6. A pump comprising: a housing having ahead carrying area; a motor coupled to a shaft; and one of a pluralityof interchangeable assemblies coupled to said carrying area of saidhousing and said shaft , said plurality of interchangeable assembliesbeing selected from a group of assemblies consisting of a first assemblyand a second assembly, said first assembly comprising a piston pumphead, said second assembly comprising a diaphragm pump head.
 7. A pumphousing comprising: a head carrying area, said head carrying areaadapted to couple to a head selectable from a group of heads consistingof a piston pump head and a diaphragm pump head.
 8. The pump housing ofclaim 7 wherein said head carrying area comprises a cylinder seatadapted to carry a cylinder, wherein when said piston pump head iscoupled to said carrying area and said cylinder is carried by said seat,said cylinder seat and piston pump head exert opposing forces on saidcylinder; and wherein said cylinder seat does not carry said cylinderwhen said diaphragm head is coupled to said housing.
 9. The pump housingof claim 8 wherein said head carrying area further comprises a pluralityof piston head mounting bosses extending in a direction radially inwardand away from a first inner side surface of a sidewall of said carryingarea, said first inner surface at least partially delimiting anaperture, and a plurality of diaphragm head mounting bosses extending ina direction radially outward of an outer surface of said sidewall,wherein when said piston pump head is coupled to said head carryingarea, it is coupled to said piston head mounting bosses and wherein whensaid diaphragm pump head is coupled to said head carrying area it iscoupled to said diaphragm head mounting bosses.
 10. The pump housing ofclaim 9 wherein said carrying area further comprises a second sidesurface, said second side surface also delimits said aperture, and saidaperture receives a reciprocating diaphragm support when said diaphragmhead is coupled to said diaphragm head mounting bosses.
 11. The pumphousing of claim 10 wherein said carrying area has a floor, said pistonhead mounting bosses extend in an axial direction away from said floor,said floor extends radially between said cylinder seat and said firstside surface.
 12. The pump housing of claim 11 wherein said cylinderseat is about said aperture.
 13. The pump of claim 1 wherein said pistonhas a head and said diaphragm support has a head.
 14. A first assemblyand a second assembly comprising: a piston pump head, a piston and acylinder forming part of said first assembly; a diaphragm pump head, anda diaphragm support forming part of said second assembly; said firstassembly and said second assembly interchangeable with a pump housinghaving a head carrying area, said piston pump head couples to said headcarrying area when said piston of said first assembly is coupled to anend of a shaft in said pump housing, said diaphragm pump head couples tosaid head carrying area when said diaphragm support arm of said secondassembly is coupled to said end of said shaft.